Bouchard: I’m not fully prepared for the 2017 season

Eugenie Bouchard began her season on a low as she crashed out in the first round of the Brisbane International on Sunday.

Explaining the reason behind her disappointing performance, Bouchard, who was beaten 2-6, 6-2, 1-6 by Shelby Rogers, said that she is still not fully ready for an entire season.

"I definitely feel kind of rusty," she said. "I had a normal pre-season training. I just, before that, had taken more time off than usual."

Last season, Bouchard said that her heavy schedule took a toll on her as she was forced to pull out of the Asian circuit due to shin splints. She did, however, return for two tournaments in Linz and Luxembourg, but fell in the first round of both events.

"I played like, seven, eight tournaments in a row,” she said. “And even though I wasn't going far in each one, I was still—the mentality of, you know, going from tournament to tournament and always that stress of a tournament week after week after week. Especially after the Quebec City tournament, obviously, which is at home and a lot more emotional and really tough to play in.”

Bouchard, who recently reunited with coach Thomas Hogstedt, admitted that taking more time off than usual during the offseason was highly beneficial for her.

"I really needed it, but I feel like it helped because I'm super motivated,” she said. “I just need to get back into it."